J.E.D.I
A note on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
All are welcome in Basecamp regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or creed.
And we want you to feel that way.
Inclusiveness is a core tenet for Basecamp — we want to invite people without outdoor industry experience into the group if they’re interested in learning more about it. We believe that people from outside the industry can bring invaluable perspectives and skill sets that can only benefit the industry as a whole by widening our views. Services and products can only get better if they are representative of everyone's realities.
Even more important than creating an inclusive atmosphere, though, is our prioritization to lift up the marginalized communities within the outdoor industry — members who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQIA+, disabled (including invisible disabilities), plus-size, low income, elderly, single parents, and more. We’re actively trying to raise these voices because our industry has quieted them for too long and because they matter.
They matter for many reasons but in part because we need younger generations to see themselves in the outdoors so that they feel safe and welcome there. The outdoors has the power to heal and nurture us through the hardest parts of the human experience and it also creates so much joy. It pulls us into the present moment, connects us with our most authentic selves and calms our nervous systems (takes us out of the flight-or-flight state that so many of our traumatized communities are existing in), which can only be good for society as a whole. We need nature to be accessible to all because discrimination is not a problem only for those who are discriminated against — it’s an everyone problem until there is equity.
At Basecamp, we are doing quite a few things (and have many more planned) to invite in and welcome these communities:
1) We encourage job posters to include pay as a way to minimize the wage gap for women and minorities.
2) We have created one of the only safe spaces in the industry to have uncomfortable conversations around marginalization. We host these and welcome them as a method of growth and maturation for all involved.
3) We remind brands that they have to pay their talent — especially as so many are working to diversify who they are casting.
4) We’re building out a freelancer database with contributors from marginalized communities that we’ll make free and accessible across our properties.
5) We’ll be offering scholarships to members of marginalized communities across all of our paid products. Apply for a Basecamp Weekly Premium scholarship here.
6) We prioritize diversity within our Featured Member spot in the newsletter.
7) We always showcase diversity and prioritize organizations working towards these efforts when working on any photographic initiatives.
8) We’re working on recruiting more people of color and members of marginalized communities into Basecamp — we want better representation in the group and recognize that we have to actively go out and pursue it to make it happen.
9) We’ll always waive the posting fee for any events benefitting or providing spaces of healing for marginalized groups in Basecamp Weekly.
10) We prominently feature companies, non-profits and initiatives actively making a difference in the outdoor industry in the Community Spotlight our weekly newsletter. Apply here.